Comments on: Lessons From the Uganda Homosexuality Conference http://pursuegod.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/lessons-from-ugandas-homosexuality-conference/ Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:11:22 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Digest I « Pursue God http://pursuegod.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/lessons-from-ugandas-homosexuality-conference/#comment-1767 Digest I « Pursue God Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:10:15 +0000 http://pursuegod.wordpress.com/?p=656#comment-1767 [...] our time. But, do not underestimate the damage Lively is capable of inflicting. After he spoke at a Christian conference in Uganda a few months ago, it led to renewed witch-hunts of gays and lesbians. One account reported that a [...] [...] our time. But, do not underestimate the damage Lively is capable of inflicting. After he spoke at a Christian conference in Uganda a few months ago, it led to renewed witch-hunts of gays and lesbians. One account reported that a [...]

]]> By: Ch. 3-6: Love Is an Orientation « Pursue God http://pursuegod.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/lessons-from-ugandas-homosexuality-conference/#comment-1690 Ch. 3-6: Love Is an Orientation « Pursue God Thu, 14 May 2009 15:25:36 +0000 http://pursuegod.wordpress.com/?p=656#comment-1690 [...] could earn a lifetime prison sentence for having a homosexual relationship (this reminded me of the recent discussion on Uganda) (p. 55). While you don’t hear about lifetime prison sentences for something like adultery, it is [...] [...] could earn a lifetime prison sentence for having a homosexual relationship (this reminded me of the recent discussion on Uganda) (p. 55). While you don’t hear about lifetime prison sentences for something like adultery, it is [...]

]]> By: jb http://pursuegod.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/lessons-from-ugandas-homosexuality-conference/#comment-1447 jb Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:58:21 +0000 http://pursuegod.wordpress.com/?p=656#comment-1447 I lived in uganda for 3 years just as all this hysteria was beginning to reach its present crescendo. Many people were relaxed about it, but many, many others were extremely uptight and believed all kinds of outlandish ideas-- "homosexuality causes aids", "causes cancer", etc etc-- and they feel that gays are a very serious threat that must be dealt with by punishment, torture, imprisonment, harassment, and death. The odd thing is that to hear the rhetoric, you'd think that without over-the-top draconian laws, every single man, woman, and teenager is on the verge of becoming a flaming queer by tomorrow morning. The president is using gays as a scapegoat to deflect anger about his family's plundering and his own failed policies. The inflamed rhetoric of Pastor Ssempa, a friend of Rick Warren and very frequently in the paper, one of the organizers of the conference, is extremely ugly and hateful and mendacious. People are in real danger. If we want to help, we should look to find ways of cooling down the whole discourse. That means we're going to have to show how accepting that a certain number of people in this world are always going to be gay is a mature christian stance. Africans do sometimes look to missionaries as role models. But no homophobic christian should ever be allowed to go to Africa. S/he could be abetting murder. And murder is a lot more common there than it is here. I lived in uganda for 3 years just as all this hysteria was beginning to reach its present crescendo. Many people were relaxed about it, but many, many others were extremely uptight and believed all kinds of outlandish ideas– “homosexuality causes aids”, “causes cancer”, etc etc– and they feel that gays are a very serious threat that must be dealt with by punishment, torture, imprisonment, harassment, and death. The odd thing is that to hear the rhetoric, you’d think that without over-the-top draconian laws, every single man, woman, and teenager is on the verge of becoming a flaming queer by tomorrow morning. The president is using gays as a scapegoat to deflect anger about his family’s plundering and his own failed policies. The inflamed rhetoric of Pastor Ssempa, a friend of Rick Warren and very frequently in the paper, one of the organizers of the conference, is extremely ugly and hateful and mendacious. People are in real danger. If we want to help, we should look to find ways of cooling down the whole discourse. That means we’re going to have to show how accepting that a certain number of people in this world are always going to be gay is a mature christian stance. Africans do sometimes look to missionaries as role models. But no homophobic christian should ever be allowed to go to Africa. S/he could be abetting murder. And murder is a lot more common there than it is here.

]]> By: Karen K http://pursuegod.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/lessons-from-ugandas-homosexuality-conference/#comment-1443 Karen K Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:22:39 +0000 http://pursuegod.wordpress.com/?p=656#comment-1443 Hi Michael, Good question! I am so glad to hear that you are speaking on sexuality. There is such a need for the church to do so. As for resources, I would suggest something a bit more updated than Lahaye's book. His book was published back in 1978 when many Christians were still trying to figure out what homosexuality was all about. Fortunately, over the years others have written material that is more current and accurate. If you want to show something to teens, I recommend the video "Truth and Tolerance" and I also recommend passing out a list of online resources for youth. You can find those resources for youth at the bottom of this post I wrote on youth and homosexuality: http://pursuegod.wordpress.com/2008/02/28/christian-youth-on-homosexuality/ In terms of how to respond to gay friends, I recommend Chad Thompson's book "Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would." He also has suggestions related to addressing homosexuality in high schools in a way that is outreach oriented rather than harsh protests that the ultra-conservative folks normally do. See Thompson's website Inqueery: http://www.inqueery.com/ In terms of the church's response, there is an excellent chapter on homosexuality by pastor Dan Kimball in his book "They Like Jesus, But Not the Church"--its one of the best things I've read by a pastor on the subject. He really gets it and he understands where young people are at in their thinking on this issue. I think the key is balance between grace and truth. Jesus seeks to be redemptive. So, how does the church respond--not with condemnation but with a redemptive spirit? And, how can your youth group be safe for the kids there to be open about their own struggles? Definitely assume that there are some who struggle that you will be speaking to in this group. Probably scared to tell anyone. A new book that is coming out in May that I also recommend is "Love is an Orientation" by Moody graduate student Andrew Marin. See his website here: http://www.themarinfoundation.org/ Andrew is more incarnational in his ministry to the gay community than probably anyone I know. He is not gay himself, but lives in BoysTown, Chicago. You can also see here a general list of resources on sexuality by category for more options: http://pursuegod.wordpress.com/library/sexuality-library/ And, feel free to post again or e-mail me if you have any further questions or comments. Thanks! PS--another good resource is Reach Truth. This is a good way to come alongside someone who struggles without having to be an expert on sexuality. So, if a teen in your church struggles, try pairing them with a same-sex mentor--a safe, godly adult who might be willing to go through this mentor program with them: http://www.reachtruth.com/ Hi Michael,

Good question! I am so glad to hear that you are speaking on sexuality. There is such a need for the church to do so. As for resources, I would suggest something a bit more updated than Lahaye’s book. His book was published back in 1978 when many Christians were still trying to figure out what homosexuality was all about. Fortunately, over the years others have written material that is more current and accurate.

If you want to show something to teens, I recommend the video “Truth and Tolerance” and I also recommend passing out a list of online resources for youth. You can find those resources for youth at the bottom of this post I wrote on youth and homosexuality: http://pursuegod.wordpress.com/2008/02/28/christian-youth-on-homosexuality/

In terms of how to respond to gay friends, I recommend Chad Thompson’s book “Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would.” He also has suggestions related to addressing homosexuality in high schools in a way that is outreach oriented rather than harsh protests that the ultra-conservative folks normally do. See Thompson’s website Inqueery: http://www.inqueery.com/

In terms of the church’s response, there is an excellent chapter on homosexuality by pastor Dan Kimball in his book “They Like Jesus, But Not the Church”–its one of the best things I’ve read by a pastor on the subject. He really gets it and he understands where young people are at in their thinking on this issue.

I think the key is balance between grace and truth. Jesus seeks to be redemptive. So, how does the church respond–not with condemnation but with a redemptive spirit? And, how can your youth group be safe for the kids there to be open about their own struggles? Definitely assume that there are some who struggle that you will be speaking to in this group. Probably scared to tell anyone.

A new book that is coming out in May that I also recommend is “Love is an Orientation” by Moody graduate student Andrew Marin. See his website here: http://www.themarinfoundation.org/

Andrew is more incarnational in his ministry to the gay community than probably anyone I know. He is not gay himself, but lives in BoysTown, Chicago.

You can also see here a general list of resources on sexuality by category for more options: http://pursuegod.wordpress.com/library/sexuality-library/

And, feel free to post again or e-mail me if you have any further questions or comments. Thanks!

PS–another good resource is Reach Truth. This is a good way to come alongside someone who struggles without having to be an expert on sexuality. So, if a teen in your church struggles, try pairing them with a same-sex mentor–a safe, godly adult who might be willing to go through this mentor program with them: http://www.reachtruth.com/

]]> By: Michael http://pursuegod.wordpress.com/2009/03/12/lessons-from-ugandas-homosexuality-conference/#comment-1442 Michael Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:37:13 +0000 http://pursuegod.wordpress.com/?p=656#comment-1442 Karen, what resources would you recommend to study in relation to the same-sex attraction?I have been asked to speak at a teen workshop on teen sexuality/how to deal with gay people. I have had and have gay friends and family so I have seen the community up close. My research as a Christian has centered on a book by Tim Lahaye, "The Unhappy Gays." As I understand it, you dispute some of his findings so I welcome your feedback. Karen, what resources would you recommend to study in relation to the same-sex attraction?I have
been asked to speak at a teen workshop on teen sexuality/how to deal with gay people. I have had and have gay friends and family so I have
seen the community up close. My research as a Christian has centered on a book by Tim Lahaye, “The Unhappy Gays.” As I understand it, you dispute some of his findings so I welcome your feedback.

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